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Thursday, July 5, 2012

Bedknobs and Broomsticks: Opening Titles

You can tell a lot about a movie and the people who made it based on the opening titles. If the movie is great, and the people care about it odds are the same care and affection will be given to every aspect, including the opening sequence. The subtle art of these titles has been lost throughout the decades, in favor of the titles playing over the action.
One of my favorite opening sequences is from the 1971 Disney film Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Totally under rated in every aspect. (indeed, I want miss Price to be my mother...) The opening was inspired by the medieval Bayeux tapestry and like said tapestry the sequence tells a story. The illustrations in this are just lovely, and who ever was responsible did a bang up job. What happened to the days where people were actually proud of the work they did?

In addition to this being a terrific title sequence, who else can see these being wonderful tattoos??!! I need one of the kids in bed...or miss Price leading the suits of armor! amazing.

3 comments:

It's a wonderful opening sequence. It establishes a parallel between the 1066 invasion from across the sea, pictured in the Bayeaux Tapestry, and the Nazi invasion in the film. But this time the Brits won! And the British character drawing strength from history is a nice little subtext throughout. I especially loved the various jobs/positions in the credits being given very appropriate images -- the DP as a wizard with a dark lantern, the Sherman brothers as troubadours (or jongleurs).

The Dark Place: An "all is lost" event causes hero to retreat or happens due to a retreat. The point where the character sees what the things he has been doing are not working. Because of own flaws, Hero failed, but he learns from them, faces his deepest fear and starts trying to overcome inner challenges standing in his way. Hero make changes to himself, to his plan, making a decision that forces the resolution of the story, transitioning him from warrior to hell-bent selfless hero. It also is known as Energetic Marker 3, Dark Night of the Soul, Abyss and Revelation, Plot Point Two, Act Two Climax, The Major Assault, Death Experience, Rock Bottom, The Ordeal, The Crisis, Big Change, Epiphany, Inmost Cave, and Crisis. The hero comes at last to a dangerous place, often deep underground, where the object of the quest should be hidden. The tension should be at the highest point, and this should be the decisive turning point. You must convince the audience that their worst fears are going to come true. Dark point